Revisit the icons of rock ‘n’ roll in the Summer Theatre performance, Million Dollar Quartet, starting July 12

July 03, 2017

Revisit some of the greatest songs of the rock ‘n’ roll age through the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre performance of the Tony award-winning show, Million Dollar Quartet.

The second of the Summer Theatre series, Million Dollar Quartet tells of a night when music icons Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins came together at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee on December 4, 1956, for a famed recording session.

Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits including “Great Balls of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” and “Hound Dog.”

“If you’re old enough to remember seeing or hearing these guys perform in their early day, enjoy this trip down memory lane; and if you’re too young to have seen or heard them in their youth, enjoy this little one-night history lesson in the music that parents didn’t want their children to hear,” Director, Dr. Michael Hannah, said.

The two-hour long family-friendly show will take place July 12 until the 15 at 7 p.m. as well as July 13, 15 and 16 at 2 p.m.

Box office hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Please check online for show day hours. For group sales, call the box office at 828.898.8709.

Former Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis, now Myra Lewis Williams, to host book signing at each showing

Few are left to tell the tale of the Million Dollar Quartet phenomena, but the woman formerly known as Myra Gale Brown knew them all–Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.

When Myra was 12 years old, her father, J. W. Brown, became aware that his musically gifted cousin, Jerry Lee, was struggling to break into the music business. J. W., a bass player himself, drove from his home in Memphis to Mississippi to bring Jerry Lee back to Sun Records for what would become his big break into the music business.

Jerry Lee moved in with the Brown family, and he and a young Myra got caught up in the tidal wave of the birth of rock-and-roll. The year after the "Million Dollar Quartet" recording–at the age of 13–Myra would become Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis.

Today, the now Myra Lewis Williams lives in a quiet suburb of Atlanta with her husband and dogs, sells real estate, and has published a collection of anecdotal stories about her life and place amidst rock ‘n’ roll history.

Mrs. Williams will be signing copies of her book, “The Spark That Survived”, at each performance of Million Dollar Quartet. In addition to the book signing, a talk-back is also scheduled with her on Saturday, July 15 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium. For more information, email Janet Speer at speerj@lmc.edu.